ˈmantə, ˈmän- noun
Etymology: Spanish, literally, blanket, cloak, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin, blanket, cloak
1. -s chiefly Southwest : a plain cotton fabric
2. -s
a. : a square piece of cloth or blanket used in southwestern United States and Latin America usually as a cloak, head covering, or shawl
b. : a piece of canvas or other heavy cloth used to cover a loaded packsaddle or to wrap loads for carrying
3.
a. also manta ray -s
[American Spanish, from Spanish, blanket; from the method of catching the fish in traps resembling large blankets]
: devilfish 1
b. capitalized
[New Latin, from American Spanish]
: a genus of rays containing the typical devilfishes
4.
a. plural manta or mantas usually capitalized : an Indian people of coastal Ecuador
b. : a member of such people